The event begins at 10 a.m. and will continue until 2 p.m. at Corinthians Baptist Church, 2027 Peck, Muskegon Heights.

The event is funded by the Muskegon Oceana Community Action Partnership. The two-county group is a nonprofit organization and human service agency that provides assistance
and services to low- and moderate-income individuals and families in Muskegon and Oceana counties.

The Rev. Samuel Greer, president of the social justice commission and pastor of Queen Esther Baptist Church, 2220 Superior, Muskegon Heights, said Saturday's event is “one step” toward heading off gun violence.

“We are teaming up with the Muskegon Oceana Community Action Partnership to help curtail what has been a lingering problem in our community,” Greer said. “It's our desire to get guns off our streets. This is one step in that process.”

This year, gun violence has already accounted for 15 shootings, including three fatalities.

“Residents who turn in weapons will be granted amnesty from any gun possession charges that may be associated with the weapons,” according to a Muskegon Police Department press release.

That means if a gun turned over to the buy-back program checks out to be a stolen weapon or a weapon used in a crime, the person who turned it in won't face a gun-possession charge.

Weapons must be unloaded and ammunition won't be accepted. The guns will be sent to a Michigan State Police lab for analysis and then destroyed, authorities said.

Residents taking part in the buy-back must present a photo ID that indicates they live in Muskegon or Muskegon Heights, authorities said.

The buy-back was something the social justice commission members felt was one way to get more guns off the streets.

Greer said he can't predict how successful the event will be, but hopes many people feel comfortable turning in weapons at the church.

“The ultimate goal is to provide an opportunity to relieve our streets of weapons. We want to make a positive influence in the community,” Greer said.

Seven area pastors, along with Muskegon Police Chief Tony Kleibecker, Muskegon Heights Police Chief Lynne Gill and Muskegon County Sheriff Dean Roesler, formed the commission earlier this month. Melvin Lars, president of the NAACP; Dana Bryant, superintendent of Muskegon Heights Public Schools; and Ed Garner, board chairman of the Urban League of Greater Muskegon, are also part of the commission.

Greer has said the commission has a three-point plan to curb violence, including creating activities and programs that will provide "a path to success” for young people, “reconnect the criminal justice system to the heart of the community” and instruct local educators to “prepare our students” for a better life.

Greer has said the commission will focus on middle school and high school students and offer tutoring and other after-school programs to keep them off the streets.

“We wanted to reach out to various areas to other groups in town so we could stand collectively to bring peace to our area,” he said.